Kayode Fayemi, the minister of
mines and steel development, has challenged the 10-year ban slammed on him from
holding political office by an Ekiti state government white paper.

In a statement issued on his
behalf by Yinka Oyebode, his senior special assistant on media, Fayemi
described the action as “a big joke”.

According to the statement, the
contents of the white paper was “a pre-meditated verdict that cannot stand”.

It said neither Ayo Fayose, Ekiti
governor, nor his government had the constitutional powers to ban him from
holding political office, either in Ekiti or any part of Nigeria.

“While we believe it is part of
the responsibilities of the state administration to look into the finances of
the state at any point in time, we are also of the belief that such must be
done in a very responsible manner devoid of prejudice, witch hunting and a
calculated attempt to victimise a citizen.

“In this particular case, the entire
process is discredited right from the beginning, as the only agenda of the
panel was to rubbish Fayemi’s public service record.

“One is therefore not surprised
at the recommendations of the white paper, it only goes to confirm our initial
position that the panel was compromised right from inception and targeted
against the former governor.

“In his desperation, Fayose chose
the crude and ignoble path towards hitting a perceived political foe.”

The statement added that: “In the
process, they ignored the rule of law and behaved as if the court does not
matter, thus making their actions subjudiced to the court.

“Fayose was misguided into
believing that he could pass a death sentence on Fayemi’s public service with
the white paper, this is not only laughable, but ridiculous, as neither him nor
his paid agents have the power to bar anyone from political participation.

“The entire process and the
character personae involved are discredited and since it is impossible to build
something on nothing, legally speaking, their recommendation is not only null
and void, it is a joke taken too far.

“We urge the teeming supporters
of the minister, the good people of Ekiti state and the general public not to
be disturbed by the development, it is simply another act of illegality, from
an administration that has elevated political debauchery to state craft.”